Patents by Inventor Todd H. Swanstrom

Todd H. Swanstrom has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ATTACHING CROSSMEMBERS TO A PAIR OF FLANGED BEAMS
    Publication number: 20210214009
    Abstract: A pair of elongate attachment members, or “Z-rails” for attaching an end of a trailer crossmember to a flanged beam each include a first end section, an L-shaped portion comprising a horizontal leg and a vertical leg extending from the first end section, and a second end section extending from the vertical leg. The horizontal leg has a bottom surface with a width equal to the distance between the web of the flanged beam and the end of the flange. The vertical leg has an outer surface with a width equal to the width of the end of the flange. The Z-rails are attached to opposite ends of the crossmember to form a subassembly. The subassembly is fixed to and between the flanged beams by welding the first end sections to the web of the corresponding beam, with the horizontal leg on the flange, without directly heating the flange, thereby not diminishing the toughness of the flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Applicant: Western Trailer Co.
    Inventors: Jerald M. Whitehead, Todd H. Swanstrom
  • Method and apparatus for attaching crossmembers to a pair of flanged beams
    Patent number: 10994782
    Abstract: A pair of elongate attachment members, or “Z-rails” for attaching an end of a trailer crossmember to a flanged beam each include a first end section, an L-shaped portion comprising a horizontal leg and a vertical leg extending from the first end section, and a second end section extending from the vertical leg. The horizontal leg has a bottom surface with a width equal to the distance between the web of the flanged beam and the end of the flange. The vertical leg has an outer surface with a width equal to the width of the end of the flange. The Z-rails are attached to opposite ends of the crossmember to form a subassembly. The subassembly is fixed to and between the flanged beams by welding the first end sections to the web of the corresponding beam, with the horizontal leg on the flange, without directly heating the flange, thereby not diminishing the toughness of the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Western Trailer Co.
    Inventors: Jerald M. Whitehead, Todd H. Swanstrom
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ATTACHING CROSSMEMBERS TO A PAIR OF FLANGED BEAMS
    Publication number: 20200148265
    Abstract: A pair of elongate attachment members, or “Z-rails” for attaching an end of a trailer crossmember to a flanged beam each include a first end section, an L-shaped portion comprising a horizontal leg and a vertical leg extending from the first end section, and a second end section extending from the vertical leg. The horizontal leg has a bottom surface with a width equal to the distance between the web of the flanged beam and the end of the flange. The vertical leg has an outer surface with a width equal to the width of the end of the flange. The Z-rails are attached to opposite ends of the crossmember to form a subassembly. The subassembly is fixed to and between the flanged beams by welding the first end sections to the web of the corresponding beam, with the horizontal leg on the flange, without directly heating the flange, thereby not diminishing the toughness of the flange.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Applicant: Western Trailer Co.
    Inventors: Jerald M. Whitehead, Todd H. Swanstrom